Trends in improving well-being in the workplace

Wellbeing at work gets more attention

In the recent times, more and more organisations are taking the wellbeing of their employees a lot more seriously. And why shouldn’t they? Research has shown that a healthy and engaged workforce can cut down the cost per employee more than $1500. If yours is a large organisation, this means a lot of money can be saved, which in turn translates to an increase in the return on investments. Improving the wellbeing of your workforce has a lot of obvious benefits.

It increases the productivity of your employees — With the help of wellbeing initiatives, employees feel a lot healthier — both physically and mentally. With the reduction in stress, increases the energy to perform better.

Brings the team in cohesion — Wellbeing initiatives involve team-building activities, that bring your team together. It gives the whole organization a shared purpose for which they work.

Creates a positive work environment — Practicing mindfulness and meditation are facets of improving wellbeing in the workplace. These activities will decrease the stress levels of your employees and create an overall positive work environment within the organization.

There is no one way to create a wellbeing programme for your organization. Different companies use different modes for fostering their mental and physical wellbeing. However, there are a few wellbeing trends that have worked for a lot of large corporations.

In this article, we cover some of the top wellbeing trends that you can implement in your organisation to improve employee productivity and generate a higher return on investments. Take a look.

7 workplace wellbeing trends

1. Implement on-site yoga classes

A lot of large companies are outsourcing Yoga experts within their organisation to create an environment of meditation and mindfulness. You can put in an hour before work for employees that are interested in the same. For companies that function on a large scale, this can be extremely useful. Since they can afford the assistance of experts, they won’t have to spend time on coming up with other cheap (and sometimes ineffective) plans.

2. Give gym discounts

This trend is a great way to render incentives to your employees while ensuring their physical well being. Since it would be given out as an incentive, they’d be naturally motivated to work better, and their physical well being will also, in turn, improve their work productivity. Two shots from the same arrow, wouldn’t you say? Another aspect you can work on is redesigning your office layout. Keep ample space for the employees to move around and freshen up once in a while. Use of ergonomic chairs, standing-desks, etc. can also be imparted. This will keep the work culture non-monotonous and keep the workforce active!

3. Be flexible in working hours

Rigidity in working is a lost cause now. Organisations are becoming more and more open-minded about a lot of things. One of those things is the flexibility in working hours. Every employee is different. They have their different situations and problems. Therefore, if it is possible, you should be more flexible in assigning work hours for your employees as long as they do the work right. This will inculcate a natural sense of loyalty and satisfaction towards the work and reduce stress.

4. Promote usage of productivity boosting devices

Wearable devices like Fitbit, Apple’s Smart Watch, etc. can help your employees in monitoring their personal well-being. These smart wearables can track personal activities of an individual like sleep quality, calories, pulse rate, etc. This will help your employees in not only staying active & healthy, but also make them proactive. In addition to this, the organisations can also promote mindfulness and meditation activities. Apps like Headspace can serve this purpose well!

5. Incorporate team activities

Team bonding activities have always happened in organisations, and they will continue to happen. However, most team bonding activities fall flat. Employees get the feeling that there may be a hidden agenda behind it, and they end up becoming formulaic and meaningless. Make sure that you spice up these activities with new, creative ideas so that your team remains interested and it feels organic. Perhaps do not assign a rigid time for it? Surprise your team with a weekend getaway with the whole organisation. I’m sure you can think of great ideas.

6. Financial advising

This is one trend that not a lot of employers think about, but should. Financial crisis can be a huge burden for any employee. It also results in a lot of stress. Addressing these concerns becomes imperative to ensure that an employee’s productivity is not hampered. Giving financial advice and education to your employees from different walks of life can be greatly beneficial for your employee’s well being.

7. Limit office hours to boost productivity!

It is essential that you restrict the office hours and keep the work-timings fixed. You can communicate to your employees that you do not expect them to work outside these foxed hours. This will promote a sense of relaxation amongst employees and motivates them to maximize their productivity during the working hours.

Conclusion

Right after you implement these initiatives, you should always run a survey to see whether your plans are working or not. Feedback is critical. If one initiative is not working, try another. Keep trying till you find the sweet spot, and achieve the desired work-culture dynamics for your company.